Renovating With Your Kids: Projects You Can Do Together

Renovating your home? Why not make it a family affair, getting the kids involved in projects that can make them feel included and proud of their work.

Not every job is gong to be right for your kids.

But there are several tasks they can do with supervision, and a few they might be able to handle on their own, depending on their age and maturity level.

The first step is to properly explain the tasks at hand and identify any risks.

"Parents really need to talk to their kids who are old enough to understand and lay down ground rules for the renovation," says Eric Phillips, vice president and general manager at DreamMaker Bath and Kitchen of the Triangle in Apex, NC on Bob Vila.

"And once the rules are there, parents really have to have the discipline to enforce those rules with their kids."

Feeling good about their ability to help? Go renovate something together!

Cleaning and chucking

Before any renovation can start, you'll probably have some cleaning out to do. The traditional three-pile method of "keep, sell, donate" can work well for kids. Telling them they can keep whatever they make on the sale of their old things usually inspires a job well done.

Painting the walls

Your kids have probably been painting since before they could speak. With their fingers, anyway. They probably haven't lost the love of covering surfaces in pretty colors, so set them up with a paintbrush and let them go! You'll want to give them a basic tutorial that illustrates how to best get paint on the desired surface without dribbles. And don't forget to prepare the area with heavy-duty dropcloths, tape up baseboards, and move furniture and furnishings out of the way so they don't accidentally get splattered.

teal & lime

Sanding

Use caution with electric sanders, or any power tool for that matter, when your kids are involved. But sandpaper or sanding sticks and a surface that needs to be stripped down could be a good way to bring some kids in on a renovation. You'll need to make sure they have a dust mask, eye protection, and a well-ventilated area. Sandpaper in tender hands might cause abrasions, so make sure there are gloves as well.

Creating new art

You probably already have a stack of your kids' art showcased or stashed in your home. But directing them to create something new specifically for a showcase wall or tabletop is a great way to involve them in your renovation without worrying about them getting hurt. Choosing colors and materials together at an art store and show them ahead of time where their art is going to be displayed can get them excited about this new project—and maybe make them feel better about the fact that they don't get to handle the nail gun.

Backsplash

Doing your own kitchen backsplash is a relatively easy DIY project you can do over the weekend and have a little fun at the same time. If you're doing mosaics on a sheet, kids as young as five or six should be able to help place them and even help adhere them to the wall and apply/clean up the grout.

Pulling up carpet

Kids who love to dismantle stuff (read: all kids) will love being able to help roll up carpet for removal. The box knife needed to slice it up is probably not the best tool to put in a kid's hands, but taking up the tack strip? A handy child can use a pry bar and rubber mallet to handle this task. Just take proper precautions with gloves, eye protectors and the like. Those nails can be nasty.

Chasa

Laying wood floors

Kids can be helpful gluing and placing wood planks and might even enjoy the process. Can you leave your five-year-old alone to handle the job? Probably not. But working side-by-side with your children laying out the wood pieces will make you all feel good every time you take a step.

Wallpaper removal

The tedious peeling away of old wallpaper might be the perfect task for your kids. Even if they don't finish the job, any wallpaper you don't have to peel off yourself is a bonus. Trust us.

Other demolition

An invitation to break stuff? Oh yeah! Just remember to take all safety precautions (goggles, closed-toe shoes, and gloves if needed) and make sure the demo is appropriate for the age group (i.e. you might not want to leave your five-year-old alone with a power saw.).

Gardening

If your renovation includes an outdoor element, you're in luck! Kids love to get dirty. Depending on the age and inclination of your child(ren), a bag of soil and a shovel might be considered a good time!

Shared from:  http://realtytimes.com/consumeradvice/homeownersadvice1/item/38100-20150907-renovating-with-your-kids-projects-you-can-do-together

How to Tell When Exterior Doors Need to be Replaced

When properly maintained, there is no reason why a quality exterior door shouldn’t last for decades. A time does come, however, when it makes more sense to replace it rather than repair it. You can only sink so much money into something before you start to spend more than what you originally paid. If you’re trying to figure out whether your door is better off being replaced, you should ask yourself the following questions:

• Is it weathered, scratched or dented?Even with regular maintenance, one side of your exterior doorswill always be facing the elements. This can eventually lead to weathering (such as peeling paint and warping), scratching and dents. High winds can often cause branches and other debris to blow into the surface, whilst children aren’t known to be overly gentle with them.
  
• Are there cracks or breaks along the edges or within the panels?Whilst this sort of damage is often caused by weathering or lack of care when using the door, it is important to note that this sort of damage is much more severe. Cracks or breaks along the edges of the entrance or within the panels can affect the security of your home, as well as let dirt and insects find their way in.
  
• Do drafts find their way inside?During the winter, the last thing you want to contend with is a drafty home – even having the heater on quite high is unable to overcome the cool air blowing through. Whilst there are products available to help prevent drafts from coming in under the door (like those long, snake-like tubes filled with beans), they don’t really address the issue.
  
• Are you struggling to get the door to hang level on its hinges?Sometimes, with age or with damage, the entranceway will no longer hang level. When open, you may notice that the top of the entrance sags away from the frame or that the bottom is far more loose than it should be. In more extreme cases, the whole entranceway may simply fall out of the frame when you open it.
  
• Is it often a hassle to close and lock?Not being able to properly close and lock exterior doors can lead to security issues for your home – it could blow open during the day (whilst you’re at work) or during the night (whilst you’re asleep); it could allow your young children to escape into the front yard; or it could even lead to you being locked out of your home if it becomes stuck.

If the answer to any of the above questions was yes, it is advisable that you consider replacing the exterior door as opposed to repairing it. In justifying this decision, it is important that you not only think of the problems that exist with the current entryway, but also of the advantages that installing a brand new one will offer – an improved appearance, energy efficiency, security and ease of operation (to name a few).

Shared from:  http://tomjohn.realtytimes.com/advicefromtheexpert1/item/35606-how-to-tell-when-exterior-doors-need-to-be-replaced

Tools Every New Homeowner Should Have

A new house brings so much possibility—and so much responsibility.

There’s no landlord complaining about picture-hanging holes in the wall. But there’s also no super to call when the toilet breaks. That’s all on you now.

You likely got by in a rental just fine with a hammer and a screwdriver. Maybe you added a level or stashed away some pliers.

But if you’re buying a house, you’re going to face eventual repairs. Be ready for them by beefing up your old toolbox.

Here are a few items to consider adding:

Good drill. It doesn’t need to be expensive. “Contractors swear by [a $100 drill], but they’re using it every day,” says Sammy Tayeh, a manager at the Tarzian Hardware store in New York. A $40 model that you plug in to a wall (so you don’t go through batteries) is sufficient.

Selection of tape. Duct tape, electrical tape, packing tape—you never know when you might need to fix a wire you accidentally vacuumed over or rig a broken window until it can be replaced.

Picture hangers. Get ones that are appropriate for your walls. Your needs will likely change from what worked in your rental, depending on whether you have drywall or plaster, use historic picture rails or want to decorate a brick accent wall.

Variety of hardware. Nuts, bolts and nails in a range of sizes will always come in handy.

Screwdriver with interchangeable heads. Or better yet, a power screwdriver. It’s not fancy, but it makes everything from assembling furniture to tightening door hinges so much easier.

Tape measure. “I carry a tape measure in my purse, so when I’m out and about I can measure for the house,” says homeowner Susan Davoli of Syracuse, NY.

Pliers. A basic set can run about $20. You’ll find them handy for everything from pulling out old nails to installing a light fixture.

Utility knife. Save your kitchen knives (and your fingers) from potential damage.

Voltage tester. This handy gizmo will tell you whether a wire is live. Save yourself from a burn (or worse) for less than $20, especially if you want to do things like install dimmer switches or change out light fixtures or a doorbell.

Depending on the home, its age and how much work you plan to do, you might want to add a caulking gun, a pry bar and a putty knife to your list.

Collectively, these items might set you back $100 to $200. That’s far cheaper than constantly calling a handyman, and a lot easier than realizing you've got nothing around the house to deal with a middle-of-the-night emergency.

Reposted from:  http://www.realtor.com/advice/tools-every-new-homeowner/

Protect Your Home Year-Round with These 8 Maintenance Tips

It's always beneficial to keep your home in great shape.  Courtesy peggyk65@verizon.net, here are 8 sage pieces of advice to keep your house tip-top, all year long!

Whether you're a new homeowner or an experienced do-it-yourself-er around the house, these handy tips will help protect your investment year-round.

1.  Safety First - Replace the batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.  It's also a good time to make sure that any fire extinguishers in your home are in working order.

2.  Look up - Inspect your attic and roof for leaks, missing shingles and ventilation issues.  It's also a good idea to check on the chimney, as well as attic fans and vents.

3.  In the bathroom - Inspect grout and caulk around bathtubs, sinks and showers.  Get rid of cracked grout and replace missing grout.  seal tile grout.  Discolored and mildewed caulk should be cleaned and might need to be replaced with new caulk.

4.  In the kitchen - Clean appliances, including refrigerator coils and underneath the range hood.  Remove and clean or replace range hood filters.  Clean faucet aerators and replace washers as necessary.  Don't forget the drain!

5.  Keep the weather out - Inspect doors and windows for drafts and replace/install weather stripping where needed.

6.  Bug out - Inspect your home for signs of termites such as tunnels or buckling wood, swollen floors and ceilings.  Termite damage can look similar to water damage.  Call an exterminator if you think you've got termites.

7.  Clean it out - Flushing mineral deposits out of your hot water heater can extend the life of this important appliance.

8.  Don't forget - Did you know your garage door needs cleaning, inspection and lubrication of its springs at least once a year?

All of those tips are important & informative.  I know I didn't know the bit about the garage door maintenance!  We here at The Griffith Group certainly hope these helpful hints have been beneficial to you!